Fertilizer-distributer.



No. name. Patent'edSept. 2, I902.

E L. BRAXTON. FERTILIZER DISTBIBUTER. (Application filed Nov. 26, '1 901.

'(No Model.)

m: NORRIS PETERS 00., PNaTQJJTm. wumucn'on, n. c.

UNIT D STATE PATENT OFFICE.

ELIAS LAFAYETTE"BR AXTON,"OF PAOTOLUS, NORTH CAROLINA.

" FERTlLlZER -DISTRIBUTER.

SPECIFICATION forming partof Letters Patent N 0. 708,118, dated September 2, 1902.

Application filed November 26, 1901. Serial No. 83,758. (No model.)

T aZZ whom; it may concern: Y V Be it known that LELIAs LAFAYETTE BRAX- TON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pactolus, in the county of Lafayette and State of North Carolina, have invented a new and useful Fertilizer-Distributer, of which the following is a specification.

My invention ,is an improved fertilizer-distributer adapted for depositing fertilizer in furrows in such quantities as may be desired; and it consists in the peculiar construction and combination of devices hereinafter fully set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is partly a top plan View and partly a horizontal section taken on a plane indicated by the line a, a of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of my improved fertilizer-distributer. Fig.3 is adetailsectional view showing a modification.

In the embodiment of my invention I provide a frame 1, which comprises a pair of side bars 2, a front connecting-bar 3, a pair of cross-bars 4 5, which connect the side bars 2 together and are disposed at points near the centers of the said side bars, and a pair of longitudinally-disposed bars 6, which connect said bars 4 5 together. A shaft 7 is disposed transversely of the frame 1, at a suitable distance from the front end thereof, and is journaled in suitable bearings 8, one of which is indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2. On the central portion of the said shaft 7 is a front supporting-wheel 9. A shaft 10 is disposed transversely of the frame, near the rear end thereof, and is journaled in suitable bearings 11, which are secured to the-under sidesof the bars 2. On the said shaft are a pair of supporting and traction wheels '12, which are disposed at opposite sides of the frame 1. A sprocket-wheel 13 is also secured on said shaft 10 and is disposed on one side of said frame 1. A metallic transversely-disposed bar 14 connects the rear endsof the side bar-s2 and is here shown as bolted thereto. A centrallydisposed stirring shovel orpoint 15 has its standard 16 secured on thefront side of the bar 14, at the center thereof, by a clip-bolt 17. Hence the said stirring shovel or point may be vertically adjusted and caused to operate in the bottom of a furrow at any desired depth in the soil. On opposite sides of the stirring point or shovel 15 are covering points or shovels 18, which also operate in the furrow, at the sides thereof, and the standards 19 of which are secured to the cross-bar 14 by clip-bolts 20. Said covering-pointsare also vertically adjustable. A pair of handles 21 have their front ends secured to the side bars 2 at a suitable distance from the front end of the frame 1. A pairof braces 22, which are preferablyiron bars, have their lower ends secured on the side bars 2, near the rear ends thereof, and their upper ends secured to the innersides of the handles2l. Across-bar 23 has its ends disposed between and secured to the upper ends of the brafies 22 and alsosecured to the said handles. -A pair of crossbars 24 25 also connect the handles 21 together and are disposed at suitable distances from the front ends thereof.

The hopper 26 is of downwardly-tapering form. The lower portion of the hopper is disposed in the opening in the frame 1, formed between the cross-bars 4 5 and the longitudinally-disposed bars 6, which connect said cross-bars. The upper portion of the hopper is disposed between the handles'2l, and the cross-bars 24 25, which connect the handles, lie, respectively, against the front and rear sides of the upper portion of the hopper and are secured thereto. Thereby the hopper is firmly secured to the frame and is braced by the handles and the said cross-bars 24 25. The lower contracted portion of the hopper forms a discharge-spout 27. In the form of my invention shown in Fig. 2 the hopper is provided with a bottom board'28, with which coacts the cut-off slide-plate 29, which operates in an opening 30in the rear side of the hopper, is supported by the rear side of the hopper, and-is movable toward and from the Ioo By means of said clamp-screw the said outoff slide-plate may be secured at any desired adjustment, and by appropriately adjusting the said cut-off slide-plate the machine may be adjusted to deposit fertilizer in any de sired quantities in the furrows.

In Fig. 3 of the drawings I illustrate a modification in which I employ a pair of the cutoff slide-plates 29, which coact to form the bottom of the hopper and to form a dischargeopening of anydesired width therein, according to the adjustmentofthe cut-offslide-plates with relation to each other. In this modified form of my invention the bottom board 28 (shown in Fig. 2) is dispensed with, as will be understood.

A stirring-shaft 34 is disposed transversely of the hopper and has its hearings in the sides thereof. On the said shaft are secured a series of radial stirring-blades 35, which have collars 3G, adjustably secured on the shaft 3% by set-screws 37. In action the stirringblades rotate above the bottom of the hopper, prevent the fertilizer therein frotn becoming lodged or clogged, and feed the fertilizer to the discharge-opening of the hopper, so that the fertilizer is discharged evenly and continuously from the hopper into a furrow. On one end of the shaft 3& is secured a sprocketwheel 38, which is disposed in advance of the sprocket-wheel13 and is connected thereto by an endless sprocket-chain 39. The upper lead of said sprocket-chain passes over a tightening-pulleyAO, which revolves on a bolt 41, that is adjustable in a vertical slot 42 of a standard 43, which is secured on and rises from one of the side bars 2. By adjusting said tightening-pulley 30 the sprocket-chain maybe kept at the requisite tension to cause power to be conveyed from the shaft 10 to the shaft 31L. By varying the sizes of the sprocket- Wheels 13 3b the stirring-shaft 3% may be rotated at any desired rate of speed.

On one of the side bars 2 is secured a fender 43, which is below the sprocket-wheel 36, projects laterallyoutwardly beyond the same, extends in advance thereof, and is disposed in front of the proximate side supportingwheel 12. The function of this fender is to prevent obstructions from injuring the connections between the shafts 1O 34.

A fertilizer-distributer thus constructed is exceedingly strong and durable, may be manufactured at slight cost, and is not likely to get out of order.

I have tested my improved fertilizer-distributer by operating the same practicallyin the field and find that the same is thoroughly efiicient and reliable in operation and may be adjusted in such manner as to distribute fertilizer in any desired quantities.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. In a fertilizer-distributor, the combination of a wheeled frame having cross-bars forming an opening therein, a downwardlytapered hopper having its lower portion inserted between said cross-bars and bearing against the same, handles attached to the frame and disposed on opposite sides of the hopper, cross-bars connecting said handles and disposed on and bearing against the front and rear sides of the upper portion of the hopper, a cut-off slide-plate operating in an opening in one side of the hopper, extending outwardly therefrom and having a longitudinal slot, a support fixed on the frame for the outer end of said slide, and a clamping-screw in said support and operating in said slot, substantially as described.

2. In a fertilizer-distributer, the combination of a frame, a centrally-disposed supporting-wheel at the front end thereof, a shaft journaled in bearings near the rear end of the frame, supporting-Wheels on said shaft on opposite sides of the frame, a sprocket-Wheel on said shaft, at one side of the frame, a hopper supported on the frame, a stirringeshaft journaled in the hopper, a sprocket-wheel on the stirring-shaft at one side of the hopper, a sprocket-chain connecting said sprocketwheels, and a fender on one side of the frame, in advance of one of the side wheels and extending in advance of and laterally beyond the sprocket-wheel on the stirring-shaft, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ELIAS LAFAYETTE BRAXTON.

\Vitnesses:

J. Ross COLHOUN, J. II. J OCI-IUM, Jr. 

